Wildlife DG seeks revision of game reserves boundaries

LAHORE: Wildlife Department Director General Khalid Ayaz Khan said on Tuesday that climate change was impacting the natural habitat of the wildlife in the country. He said there was a need for revising the boundaries of game reserves accordingly.

He was speaking at the first hunters’ seminar arranged by the Wildlife Department to facilitate licensed hunters in the province.

Khan said the department had decided to computerise the record of licensed hunters and make it available online. He said the database would also contain information about all weapons registered by the licence holders.

Khan said the purpose of the seminar was to promote hunting as a regular sport. He said the department was committed to addressing all problems faced by licensed hunters. He said a comprehensive strategy would soon be evolved for the purpose.

He said there were 295 field officers in the department. He said the strength was not enough to effectively manage reserves spread over 5.2 million acres of land.

Khan urged licensed hunters to assist the department staff in its crack down on those involved in illegal hunting.

He said the department had identified 350 businesses in the province involved in illegal sale and purchase of wildlife. These businesses had been warned to obtain a license, he said. He said action would be taken against those who failed to do so.

Khan said arrangements were being made for a trophy hunting tournament in Cholistan. He said the tournament would likely be held in December.

Khan said the department was establishing wildlife committees at the district level to promote legal hunting. He said the committees would include Wildlife Department officials, licensed hunters and influential people of the area. Among the activities of the committees, he mentioned arrangement of walks and seminars for promotion of legal hunting and sessions to raise awareness about the Wildlife Act.

He said the committees would benefit from the knowledge of experienced hunters.

Earlier, licensed hunters in the audience briefed the director general about their problems.

Honorary Game Warden Shahrukh Butt, Nawab of Kalabagh Malik Abdul Waheed and licensed hunters from across the province were in attendance.